Honduran ambassador's march with caravan migrants in Mexico called 'political theater'

Central American migrants gathered inside and outside a church in Puebla, Mexico on April 7, 2018, for a caravan hoped to travel to the U.S. border drawing the ire of President Trump.
Nick Oza/azcentral.com

Migrants from Central America walk to Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City on April 9, 2018.(Photo: Nick Oza, Nick Oza/The Arizona Republic)

Leaders of a caravan of Central American migrants traveling toward the United States through Mexico have repeatedly accused the Honduran government of corruption and with failing to address the poverty, crime and economic conditions forcing families to flee by the thousands.

So it shocked some observers when the Honduran ambassador joined the migrants protesting outside the Honduran embassy in Mexico City on Wednesday, and then accepted their invitation to walk 9 miles to a migrant shelter.

"I have been ordered by my government to support the Honduran migrants traveling with the caravan. There are about 200 Hondurans who we will help out with paperwork and whatever is necessary," Alden Rivera Montes, the Honduran ambassador to Mexico, told El Universal.

Migrants from Central America leave Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe after a prayer service in Mexico City on April 9, 2018.(Photo: Nick Oza, Nick Oza/The Arizona Republic)

Irineo Mujica, a caravan coordinator with the transnational humanitarian group Pueblo Sin Fronteras, praised the Honduran's ambassador's solidarity walk, saying it gave him a taste of the hardships migrants have faced since leaving Chiapas in southern Mexico, and what thousands of other migrants continue to face.

The annual caravan, which at one point swelled to as many as 1,600 migrants after being flooded with families fleeing from Honduras, was expected to end Thursday, after drawing the ire of President Donald Trump, who in response has ordered National Guard troops deployed to the Southwest border to help stop illegal immigration and drug trafficking.

But Leonard Olsen, organizer with Pueblo Sin Fronteras, told The Arizona Republic via text message that "the caravan continues strong" and on Friday "the plan is to continue our journey north."

Rivera Montes' march with the migrants struck some experts as a stunt.

The scene Wednesday in Mexico City appeared disingenuous considering the Honduran government's lack of response to the economic and political crisis forcing people to flee, said Cecilia Menjivar, a University of Kansas sociology professor and expert on Central American migration.

"This is quite an awkward act on the part of the Honduran government ... because the Honduran government is doing nothing to protect the people who have been forced to migrate in this caravan," she said in an email. "Not only does the Honduran government do nothing, but in many ways, they have been actively engaged in making life impossible for the people who live in Honduras and who have no other choice to survive than to flee that country.

"So it is quite the political theater to accompany the migrants fleeing the country (and the government) that the ambassador represents."

Migrants from Central America at the shelter in Mexico City, on April 10, 2018, get their papers ready while traveling in a caravan to Tijuana. Some of the migrants took bus and train to meet with the Mexican senators. Nick Oza/The Republic

Transgender migrants from Central America came in caravan bus to Mexico City. They and other migrants visited Mexican senators. Some may stay in Mexico and ask for political asylum. Nick Oza/The Republic

Transgender migrants Gemma Giron, who is from Guatemala, and Shannel Smith, who is from Honduras, came to Mexico City in a caravan. They and other migrants visited Mexican senators. Nick Oza/The Republic

Exel Giron,15, from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, and other Central American migrants wait for food outside a church in Puebla, Mexico, for a caravan headed to the U.S. border on April 9, 2018. Nick Oza/The Republic

Central American migrants gathered inside and outside a church in Puebla, Mexico, on April 7, 2018, for a caravan that hoped to travel to the U.S. border, drawing the ire of President Trump. Nick Oza/The Republic

Central American migrants gathered inside and outside a church in Puebla, Mexico, on April 7, 2018, for a caravan hoped to travel to the US border drawing the ire of President Trump. Nick Oza/The Republic

Central American migrants prays with their family outside a church in Puebla, Mexico, on April 7, 2018, for a caravan hoped to travel to the US border drawing the ire of President Trump. Nick Oza/The Republic

Central American migrant Carlos Ricardo from Honduras gets medical attention in Puebla, Mexico, on April 7, 2018, for a caravan that hoped to travel to the U.S. border, drawing the ire of President Trump. Nick Oza/The Republic

Central American migrants gathered inside and outside a church in Puebla, Mexico, on April 7, 2018, for a caravan that hoped to travel to the U.S. border, drawing the ire of President Trump. Nick Oza/The Republic

Central American migrants gathered outside a church in Puebla, Mexico, on April 7, 2018, for a caravan that hoped to travel to the U.S. border, drawing the ire of President Trump. Nick Oza/The Republic

Central American migrants gathered outside a church in Puebla, Mexico, on April 7, 2018, for a caravan that hoped to travel to the U.S. border, drawing the ire of President Trump. Nick Oza/The Republic

Central American migrants gathered outside a church on April 7, 2018, get free clothing in Puebla, Mexico, for a caravan that hoped to travel to the U.S. border, drawing the ire of President Trump. Nick Oza/The Republic

Central American migrants gathered inside and outside a church in Puebla, Mexico, on April 7, 2018, for a caravan that hoped to travel to the U.S. border, drawing the ire of President Trump. Nick Oza/The Republic

Central American migrants Zenaida Juarez,29, with her daughter Diana Juarez, 6 inside church calling her family members in Puebla, Mexico, on April 7, 2018, for a caravan hoped to travel to the US border drawing the ire of President Trump. Nick Oza/The Republic

Central American migrants gathered inside and outside a church in Puebla, Mexico, on April 7, 2018, for a caravan that hoped to travel to the U.S. border, drawing the ire of President Trump. Nick Oza/The Republic

Central American migrants gathered inside and outside a church in Puebla, Mexico, on April 7, 2018, for a caravan that hoped to travel to the U.S. border, drawing the ire of President Trump. Nick Oza/The Republic

Central American migrants gathered inside and outside a church in Puebla, Mexico, on April 7, 2018, for a caravan that hoped to travel to the U.S. border, drawing the ire of President Trump. Nick Oza/The Republic

Central American migrants Damari Garcia Licona, 20, with her daughter Emelin Argueta Garcia, 3, on April 7, 2018, outside a church in Puebla, Mexico, for a caravan hoped to travel to the U.S. border, drawing the ire of President Trump. Nick Oza/The Republic

Central American migrants gathered inside and outside a church in Puebla, Mexico, on April 7, 2018, for a caravan that hoped to travel to the U.S. border, drawing the ire of President Trump. Nick Oza/The Republic

Central American migrants from Honduras Francis George with his 2-year-old daughter Michelle on April 7, 2018, staying at the shelter in a church in Puebla, Mexico, for a caravan that hoped to travel to the US border drawing the ire of President Trump. Nick Oza/The Republic

Central American migrants gathered inside and outside a church in Puebla, Mexico, on April 7, 2018, for a caravan that hoped to travel to the U.S. border, drawing the ire of President Trump. Nick Oza/The Republic

A church in Puebla, Mexico, has been converted into a shelter for several hundred migrants from Central America, many of home had hoped to travel to the U.S. border, drawing the ire of President Trump. Nick Oza/The Republic

A church in Puebla, Mexico, has been converted into a shelter for several hundred migrants from Central America, many of home had hoped to travel to the U.S. border. drawing the ire of President Trump. Nick Oza/The Republic

A church in Puebla, Mexico, has been converted into a shelter for several hundred migrants from Central America, many of home had hoped to travel to the U.S. border, drawing the ire of President Trump. Nick Oza/The Republic

A church in Puebla, Mexico, has been converted into a shelter for several hundred migrants from Central America, many of home had hoped to travel to the U.S. border, drawing the ire of President Trump. Nick Oza/The Republic

A church in Puebla, Mexico, has been converted into a shelter for several hundred migrants from Central America, many of home had hoped to travel to the U.S. border, drawing the ire of President Trump. Nick Oza/The Republic

Honduran family William Figueroa, 38, with his wife Iris Banegas, 38, and their children, Gerson Palma, 8, and Josue Figueroa, 15, at the church in Puebla, Mexico, that has been converted into a shelter for several hundred migrants from Central America, many of home had hoped to travel to the U.S. border, drawing the ire of President Trump. Nick Oza/The Republic

A church in Puebla, Mexico, has been converted into a shelter for several hundred migrants from Central America, many of home had hoped to travel to the U.S. border, drawing the ire of President Trump. Nick Oza/The Republic

A church in Puebla, Mexico, has been converted into a shelter for several hundred migrants from Central America, many of home had hoped to travel to the U.S. border, drawing the ire of President Trump. Nick Oza/The Republic

A church in Puebla, Mexico, has been converted into a shelter for several hundred migrants from Central America, many of home had hoped to travel to the U.S. border. drawing the ire of President Trump. Nick Oza/The Republic

Anderson Cobach Zacarias, a 10-year-old from Guatemala at a church in Puebla, Mexico, that has been converted into a shelter for several hundred migrants from Central America, many of home had hoped to travel to the U.S. border, drawing the ire of President Trump. Nick Oza/The Arizona Republic

A church in Puebla, Mexico has been converted into a shelter for several hundred migrants from Central America, many of whom had hoped to travel to the U.S. border. Nick Oza, Nick Oza/The Arizona Republic

A boy says goodbye to a friend through the windshield of a bus that will carry him to Mexico City from the sports club where Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan had been camping out in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Thursday, April 5, 2018. Migrants in the caravan that drew criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump began packing up their meager possessions and boarding buses to the Mexican capital and the nearby city of Puebla. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

A migrant family waits aboard a bus that will carry them to Mexico City, at the sports club where Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan had been camping out in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Thursday, April 5, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

A young boy peers out the window of the bus that will carry him to Mexico City from the sports club where Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan had been camping out in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Thursday, April 5, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

A Central American woman tends to her 2-month-old baby inside the bus that will carry them to Mexico City, at the sports club where migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan had been camping out in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Thursday, April 5, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

A woman carries her luggage toward a bus leaving for Mexico City, at the sports club where Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan had been camping out in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Thursday, April 5, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan board a bus that will take them to Mexico City, at the sports club where they had been camping out in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Thursday, April 5, 2018. Migrants in the caravan that drew criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump began packing up their meager possessions and boarding buses to the Mexican capital and the nearby city of Puebla. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

A police patrol pickup escorts a bus carrying Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan, as it leaves for Mexico City from the sports club where the migrants had been camping out in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Thursday, April 5, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan wait aboard a bus that will take them to Mexico City from the sports club where they had been camping out in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Thursday, April 5, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan wait aboard a bus that will take them to Mexico City from the sports club where they had been camping out in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Thursday, April 5, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan board a bus that will take them to Mexico City from the sports club where they had been camping out in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Thursday, April 5, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

A state policeman stands guard as Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan board a bus that will take them to Mexico City from the sports club where they had been camping out in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Thursday, April 5, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

A bus carrying Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan to Mexico City departs from the sports club where they had been camping out in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Thursday, April 5, 2018. Migrants in a caravan that drew criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump began packing up their meager possessions and boarding buses to the Mexican capital and the nearby city of Puebla on Thursday. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan wait in line to receive food at the sports club where they have been camping out in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Thursday, April 5, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

A suitcase sits packed and ready as Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan began departing from a sports club in Matias Romero where they have been camping out in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Thursday, April 5, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan pack up their belongings as they prepare to depart from the sports club where they have been camping out, in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Thursday, April 5, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan but tickets for a bus that will carry them to Mexico City, at the sports club where they have been camping out in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Thursday, April 5, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

A family waits to board a bus for Mexico City as Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan begin departing from the sports club where they have been camping out in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Thursday, April 5, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

Honduran migrant Genesis Martinez, 18, poses for a picture holding her 2-month-old son Cesar at the sports club where they have been camping out, in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Thursday, April 5, 2018. Martinez decided to join the migrant caravan after the woman she had been working for near Mexico's southern border threw her out of the house after she gave birth. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

A young man carries his baggage as Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan begin departing by bus from the sports club where they have been camping out in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, on Thursday, April 5, 2018. Migrants in a caravan that drew criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump began packing up their meager possessions and boarding buses to the Mexican capital and the nearby city of Puebla on Thursday. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

In this April 4, 2018, photo, the Zelaya siblings, from El Salvador, Nayeli, right, Anderson, center, and Daniela, huddle together on a soccer field, at the sports club where Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan are camped out, in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico. The children's father, Elmer Zelaya, 38, said the family is awaiting temporary transit visas that would allow them to continue to the U.S. border, where they hope to request asylum and join relatives in New York. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

Salvadoran migrant Alexis Cea, 25, poses for a picture wearing a shirt featuring an eagle printed over the pattern of an American flag, at the sports club where Central American migrants traveling with the annual Stations of the Cross caravan have been camped out, in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Wednesday, April 4, 2018. The Mexican government began handing out transit or humanitarian visas to people in a caravan of Central American migrants, and said the procession of 1,000 or so migrants that drew criticism from President Donald Trump had begun to disperse. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

Men take bucket showers in the early morning at a sports center, where Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan have been camped out, in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Wednesday, April 4, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

Volunteers serve up a donated hot breakfast to migrants at a sports center where Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan have been camped out, in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Wednesday, April 4, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

Elmer Zelaya of El Salvador prepares a breakfast of eggs and sausage for his family of five, at the sports club where Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan are camped out, in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Wednesday, April 4, 2018. Zelaya said he, his wife, and their three children are awaiting temporary transit visas that would allow them to continue to the U.S. border, where they hope to request asylum and join relatives in New York. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

A woman receives her temporary transit visa from Mexican immigration officials, at a sports club where Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan have been camped out, in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Wednesday, April 4, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

An underage migrant standing with his brother holds a temporary transit visa granted by Mexican immigration officials, at a sports club where Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan have been camped out, in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Wednesday, April 4, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

A woman with her child waits to receive a temporary transit visa from Mexican immigration officials, at a sports club where Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan have been camped out, in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Wednesday, April 4, 2018. The Mexican government began handing out transit or humanitarian visas to people in a caravan of Central American migrants, and said the procession of 1,000 or so migrants that drew criticism from President Donald Trump had begun to disperse. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

A boy laughs as he plays with a Mexican clown named "Chocolate" at the sports club where Central American migrants traveling with the annual Stations of the Cross caravan have been camped out, at a sports club in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Wednesday, April 4, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

Children play with the face of a Mickey Mouse piñata, at the sports club where Central American migrants traveling with the annual Stations of the Cross caravan have been camped out in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Wednesday, April 4, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

Children wait in line to receive gifts during a children's show that was put on to entertain them at the sports club where Central American migrants traveling with the annual Stations of the Cross caravan have been camped out in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Wednesday, April 4, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

Children wait in line to receive gifts during a children's show that was put on to entertain them at the sports club where Central American migrants traveling with the annual Stations of the Cross caravan have been camped out, in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Wednesday, April 4, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

A boy laughs as he plays with a Mexican clown named "Chocolate" at the sports club where Central American migrants traveling with the annual Stations of the Cross caravan have been camped out, at a sports club in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Wednesday, April 4, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

Salvadoran migrant Eduardo Claro wears his country's flag in his hat as he walks inside the sports complex where Central American migrants traveling with the annual Stations of the Cross caravan have been camped out, in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Wednesday, April 4, 2018. The Mexican government began handing out transit or humanitarian visas to people in a caravan of Central American migrants, and said the procession of 1,000 or so migrants that drew criticism from President Donald Trump had begun to disperse. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

Men walk across a bridge inside the sports club where Central American migrants traveling with the annual Stations of the Cross caravan have been camped out, in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Wednesday, April 4, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

A girl lies awake as Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan sleep at a sports club in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Tuesday, April 3, 2018. The caravan of Central American migrants that angered U.S. President Donald Trump was sidelined at a sports field in southern Mexico with no means of reaching the border even as Trump tweeted another threat to Mexico Tuesday. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan sleep at a sports club in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Tuesday, April 3, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

A couple sleeps beneath a tree as Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan camp out at a sports club in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Tuesday, April 3, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

A boy sits awake as Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan sleep at a sports club in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Tuesday, April 3, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

A girl walks among sleeping Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross," at a sports club in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Tuesday, April 3, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan sleep at a sports club in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Tuesday, April 3, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

Dozens of Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan sleep at a sports club in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Tuesday, April 3, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

A woman is reflected in a mirror as she gets ready for the day, as Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan wake up at a sports club in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Tuesday, April 3, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

Carlos Antonio Aguilera, 14, of Honduras, poses for a picture as Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan begin their day at a sports club in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Tuesday, April 3, 2018. The caravan of Central American migrants that angered U.S. President Donald Trump was sidelined at a sports field in southern Mexico with no means of reaching the border even as Trump tweeted another threat to Mexico Tuesday. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

A child sits awake as the adults sleep, at a sports club where Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan are camped out, in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Tuesday, April 3, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

A child plays in an abandoned pool as the adults sleep, at a sports club where Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan are camped out, in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Tuesday, April 3, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

A couple checks their cellphones as Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan begin their day at a sports club in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Tuesday, April 3, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

A child sits awake as the adults sleep, at a sports club where Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan are camped out, in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Tuesday, April 3, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

A man sits amidst other sleeping migrants at a sports club where Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan are camped out, in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Tuesday, April 3, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

Patsy Guardado, left, 15, and Yosselin Alegria, 19, both from Honduras, pose for a picture at a sports club where Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan are camped out in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Tuesday, April 3, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

A man adds water to an instant soup donated by a local organization as Central American migrants traveling with the annual "Stations of the Cross" caravan begin their day at a sports club in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Tuesday, April 3, 2018. The caravan of Central American migrants that angered U.S. President Donald Trump was sidelined at a sports field in southern Mexico with no means of reaching the border even as Trump tweeted another threat to Mexico Tuesday. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

A Mexican immigration official attends a Honduran family at a sports club they are using as temporary shelter, in Matias Romero, Oaxaca State, Mexico, Tuesday, April 3, 2018. The group is part of a caravan of Central American migrants that angered U.S. President Donald Trump. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

A Central American migrant woman gives water to a baby as the annual Migrant Stations of the Cross caravan sets up camp for a few days at a sports center in Matias Romero, Oaxaca state, Mexico, late Monday, April 2, 2018. A Mexican government official said the caravans are tolerated because migrants have a right under Mexican law to request asylum in Mexico or to request a humanitarian visa allowing travel to the U.S. border to seek asylum in the United States. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

Central American migrants stand in line to start their documentation with a Mexican immigration official during the Migrant Stations of the Cross caravan as the group makes a stop at a sports center in Matias Romero, Oaxaca state, Mexico, late Monday, April 2, 2018. The annual caravans have been held in southern Mexico for years as an Easter-season protest against the kidnappings, extortion, beatings and killings suffered by many Central American migrants as they cross Mexico. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

Central American migrant women and children stand in line for food during the annual Migrant Stations of the Cross caravan as the group sets up camp at a sports center in Matias Romero, Oaxaca state, Mexico, late Monday, April 2, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

Central American migrants, who are participating in the annual Migrant Stations of the Cross caravan, go to sleep on the grass during the group's stop at a sports center in Matias Romero, Oaxaca state, Mexico, late Monday, April 2, 2018. Felix Marquez/Associated Press

Caravan stops near important religious site

Since arriving Monday in Mexico City, about 500 migrants traveling in a caravan since March 25 have slept and eaten in dormitories at the Casa de Peregrino, a shelter usually used to house religious pilgrims visiting the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico's most important religious site.

Although many migrants traveling in the caravan have decided to remain in Mexico, many still plan to continue on to the U.S. border and apply for asylum, especially the large number of women and children, and a small group of about 25 gay and transgender migrants.

The Honduran ambassador to Mexico, dressed in a suit, tie and dress shoes, joined the migrants in a 9-mile walk from the Honduran embassy in the Condesa neighborhood of Mexico City to the Casa de Peregrino near the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexican news media reported.

Photographs on Mexico's El Universal website show Rivera Montes walking with Central American migrants, at times carrying a baby in his arms, in what the newspaper described as a "sign of solidarity" between the Honduran government and the migrants traveling in the caravan.

The Honduran ambassador also posed with Central American migrants in front of the Basilica, according to Excelsior.

Rivera Montes promised to provide Honduran migrants traveling with the caravan humanitarian assistance and to assist them in the process of applying for proof of nationality documents during their journey, according to La Silla Rota.